Nine cloud-seeding missions since Friday as rain falls over UAE

Missions are flown across the UAE throughout the year, including summer. Courtesy National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology

Nine cloud-seeding missions have been undertaken over the UAE’s skies since Friday as the bout of seasonal unsettled weather continues.

The missions were undertaken across all parts of the country from Friday morning to 10am on Monday, the National Centre of Meteorology told The National.

Rain had been falling for the past few days with 16.6mm falling at one weather station in Al Ain alone on Friday and Saturday. It was the maximum recorded over the country during this time and fell at Damtha.

Contrary to popular opinion, the NCM’s cloud seeding missions run throughout the year. During the summer, rain can fall especially in eastern areas because of the monsoon rain clouds that drift from India.

Last year the NCM conducted 242 missions, while 177 were undertaken in 2016. Those suitable for seeding are convective clouds known as cumilform that have an updraft in the middle. When these can be seen on radar, pilots are sent to the location and fire salt flares into the updraft. These particles attract tiny droplets of water and also encourage condensation. The droplets then collide with others, become larger and eventually fall to the ground as rain.